Acousmos
Acousmos is a native macOS dictation tool that provides fast, accurate voice-to-text transcription everywhere on your Mac via a system-wide hotkey. It transcribes speech and inserts text wherever the cursor is, eliminating the need to switch apps. Beyond transcription, it features AI-powered clean-up that can remove filler words, fix grammar, or reformat text as emails. The tool includes a custom dictionary for jargon and code symbols. All transcriptions are permanently archived on the user's Mac in a private, searchable format, creating a 'spoken second brain' that compounds over time. The archive is stored locally in an open format, ensuring no lock-in and full exportability. Acousmos runs on Apple Silicon Macs with macOS 14+ and offers a privacy-first approach: on lower tiers, audio is processed via managed cloud, but Pro users can bring their own API keys or use fully local models for complete offline operation. It supports multiple languages. Pricing starts with a free Pro trial (one month, no signup), followed by Plus ($12.99/mo) or Pro ($17.99/mo), both with unlimited dictation on paid plans.
- Category
- B2C
- Pricing
- Paid
Problem solved
Typing is slow and can interrupt thought flow; existing dictation tools often require app switching, lack long-term memory, and compromise privacy by sending data to the cloud. Acousmos solves these by providing a frictionless, always-available dictation experience that preserves every spoken word locally, turning informal speech into polished text while building a private, searchable archive of one's verbal history.
Use cases
- Dictate emails and messages anywhere on Mac
- Capture meeting notes and ideas without switching apps
- Write code comments and documentation using voice
- Brainstorm and flesh out concepts by talking through them
- Record and search personal voice memos over time
- Transcribe multilingual content with auto-language detection
- Use AI clean-up to turn rambling into polished prose
Audience
- Developers
- Content Creators
- Business Users
- Product Managers
- Designers
Pros
- System-wide hotkey works in any app
- Fast, accurate transcription with AI clean-up
- Private, local archive with no lock-in
- Custom dictionary for jargon and code symbols
- Option for fully local processing (Pro plan)
Cons
- macOS only (no Windows/Linux support)
- Requires Apple Silicon and macOS 14+
- Paid subscription required after trial
- Limited transcription volume in trial
- Cloud dependency on lower plans (privacy concern)
Official website: https://acousmos.com/
Canonical LambdaBase page: https://www.lambdabase.com/tools/acousmos